Missouri OC David Yost steps down for 'personal reasons'

By Tom Fornelli | College Football Writer

December 3, 2012 11:23 AM ET

David Yost came to Missouri with Gary Pinkel in 2001. (US Presswire)

For the first time since Gary Pinkel came to Columbia in 2001, David Yost will not be a part of the Missouri coaching staff in 2013. The school released a statement from Yost on Monday in which the Missouri offensive coordinator announced he was stepping down from his position.

“First off, I want to thank Coach Pinkel for an amazing 17 years,” Yost said in the press release. “He has done so much for me and I'm just so grateful for the faith that he showed in me and all of the opportunities that he sent my way. I also want to thank Mike Alden for the support he has given me personally, and to our program. Mizzou is a special place, and I know that we're positioned to do great things going forward.

“There are a lot of factors that played into the process of coming to my decision. I feel like I've had a great run here and that it's just the right time to turn it over to someone else. On one hand, it's a really hard decision to make, but on the other hand, I feel good that it's the right decision at the right time for me.”

Yost actually began working under Pinkel at Toledo in 1996.

In its first season in the SEC, the Missouri offense had a tough time transitioning. While dealing with injuries to quarterback James Franklin all season, the Tigers saw their points-per-game average drop from 32.8 in 2011 to 25.8 in 2012. The Tigers' total-yards average dropped from 475.5 yards to 356.4.

Missouri went 5-7 in its first SEC season and is not going to a bowl game for the first time since the 2004 season.